Jacob Irwig, Shreyash Patil and Paul Samuel. Photo: Luka Forman / RNZ
The Electoral Commission is hoping young people will be out in force to vote in this year's general election, building on the jump in youth turnout in 2020.
In 2020, 60.9 percent of eligible 18- to 24-year-olds voted, up from 50.1 percent in 2017.
The commission is visiting community groups, schools and universities, and employing youth advisors in an effort to reach younger voters.
So what election issues are important for this generation?
There are plenty of students who have no idea if they will vote, or who they would vote for. Some said they did not have the time to read about each party's policies, while others were not interested at all.
But there were also plenty of students at AUT in Auckland who had put a lot of thought into it.
"Climate and environment are important topics to be touched on, but I also know for a lot of people it's the living crisis, right?" Laura Franssen said.
Franssen said she was tossing up between The Opportunities Party and the Greens.
Other students Checkpoint spoke with said climate action had slipped from being the number one priority for them.
"Climate change is on the backburner for me specifically, because I've seen day-to-day how people experience life," Jacob Irvig said.
Jay-Cee Martinez agreed the "skyrocketing" cost of living meant people were not as focused on climate change.
Martinez said the Green Party or Labour would have his vote, because they reflected his values.
"Their policies align with mine, especially with Green as well, because they're looking towards what the students want."
Jay-Cee Martinez. Photo: Luka Forman / RNZ
Irvig said the financial situation in New Zealand meant many of his peers were looking overseas for better opportunities.
"Everyone in university, what they're planning to do, I've talked to many of them - everyone's just wanting to move over to Australia."
Paul Samuel felt the National Party would do the best job of improving New Zealand's economy, which he felt was important.
Samuel was impressed by Christopher Luxon's background as chief executive of Air New Zealand, saying he "knows what he's doing".
"I think especially with inflation, he'd be a good candidate."
Chief electoral officer Karl Le Quesne said while he could not predict what youth turnout would be in 2023, he encouraged everyone to enrol and vote so they could have their say.
